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G. OLIVER. Apparatus for'Use in Theatrical and Gymnastic Performances. No. 233,274. 'atented Oct. 12,1880.

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IIJEI'EH-S FNOTO-LITMQGRAPHER. WASHINGTON. D. C.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

GEORGE OLIVER, OF LONDON, ENGLAND.

APPARATUS FOR USE IN THEATRICAL AND GYMNASTIC PERFORMANCES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 233,274, dated October 12, 1880.

Application filed J nly 2, 1880. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, GEORGE OLIVER, of the City Road, London, England, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Apparatus for Use in Theatrical and Gymnastic Performances (Case D;) and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the same.

My invention consists of a combination of appara-tus for lifting a performer from the stage, andraisingandlowering himin the air to enable him to execute a flying or floating dance or analogous performance.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is an elevation of the apparatus, partly in section; Fig. 2, a plan View of a portion of the same.

A is a barrel on a horizontal axis mounted to rotate in bearings in a box, B, supported on a platform, C, suspended or otherwise fixed at any height beneath the roof of the stage, and concealed by the hangings of the scenery.

The barrel A has four circumferential grooves, a a a a, in which are respectively wound, first, a line to which a counter-weight is attached for raising the performer secondly, a wire to which the performeris attached; and, thirdly, a line to which power is applied to lower the performer. The fourth groove receives a brake-strap for controlling these movements and retaining the performer at any height to which he may be raised.

D isthe wire by which the performer is raised and held suspended. It is attached at one end to the barrel, and is wound on the same in the groove a E is the line to which the counter-weight is attached. It is fastened to and winds on the barrel in the groove a the reverse way to the wire D. This line E passes over a guide-sheave at the end of the platform C, and thence downward at the wings of the stage.

h are sand-bags or other counter-weights suspended from a cross-head, G, attached to the end of the line E.

H are vertical guide wires stretched between the stage and flies. They pass through eyes at the ends of the cross-head G, and serve to guide the counter-weights in their descent.

I is a line attached to the cross-head G for the attendant to pull upon in order to give an additional jerk or impetus to the performer besides that due to the counter-weights, so that he shall be raised suddenly off the stage.

K is the pull-down rope. It is attached to the barrel in the groovea and is wound on it the same way as the wire D. It also passes over a guide-sheave at the end of the platform C, and hangs down at the wings for the attendant to pull upon in order to lower the performer as required by the performance.

L is the brake-strap, attached at one end to the frame passing under the barrel, and attached at the other end to a lever-handle, M. The strap lies in the groove a, and the lever is operated to apply the brake by a line, m, passing over a sheave, 7t, and down at the wings within reach of the attendant. M is a spring to take the brake off.

The performer wears a harness such as that described in a former application for Letters Patent filed June 19, (Case A,) and is attached to the end of the wire D, which is unwound from the barrel by pulling on the line K, (previously Wound thereon,) thereby rotating the barrel, winding line E thereon, and raising the counter weight, whereupon the brake which has been previously applied being removed by releasing the line m, the performer is suddenly raised, the action of the counterweight being rendered more sudden by pulling on the line I, and when he has attained the desired height he maybe maintained thereat by means of the brake, or may be lowered and raised as required by the means above described.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new is- The combination, with a barrel mounted overhead, of a wire winding thereon to which the performer is to be attached, a line also winding on the barrel in the opposite direction to the wire with a counter-weight attached, a line also winding on the barrel in the same direction as the wire, and a brake, the whole arranged for use substantially as shown and described.

The above specification of my invention signed by me this 5th day of June, 1880.

GEORGE OLIVER. 

